Photographer’s Wide Angle Shot Of A Couple At The Altar, Makes Church Famous For The Wrong Reasons

Philip Monteview photo from his 24-70mm (AI enhanced)

PORTLAND, OR — A now-viral photograph by Phillip Monteview has brought unexpected attention to a local parish in the Pearl District. Composed from the back of the church with a 35mm lens, the photo is a magnificent shot of a bridal couple facing the officiant. The backdrop features the church’s marquee stained-glass window, recently installed by a local artisan who refuses to be named.

The image was posted to "Memes For Togs," a photographer-centric Instagram account, where it has amassed over a thousand comments, closing on 2 million views. Apparently, it is the artwork of the stained glass itself that is drawing all the attention.

A "Blessing" for the Parish

“We have been inundated with requests for wedding ceremonies to be held at the church from all over the area, and even some from out of the area,” said Monsignor Thomas Freud. “We are not really sure what is happening, or why, but we are so grateful for the blessing.”

Monteview, however, has a clearer theory. “I saw it right away,” he said. “I could not miss it.”

Behind the Lens

Monteview described a chaotic scene leading up to the shot. “I was shooting between my 24-70mm and my 70-200mm lenses as the bridal party made their way up the aisle. I was running around like a madman possessed, especially since my second shooter decided to take over 300 photos of the flowers outside and the ornate brass door handles instead of the ceremony. I was pretty much by myself.”

He noted that the guests seemed distracted during the vows. “I got great reactions from the parents up front, as well as some of the guests, whose eyes were transfixed on something other than the bride and groom. I knew exactly what they were looking at. I got some photos of the brothers of the bride, as well as some of the groomsmen who were tickled to death by what they were seeing.”

The Architectural Dilemma

Monteview typically captures wide-angle, architectural shots of the altar to center the couple within the story of the building. This is a signature move for him, especially at structurally beautiful locations like the Church of the Double Portion.

“It adds magnificence to the moment—the grandness of the wide-angle shot with the couple centered. I love it. However, I struggled with whether I should even take that shot. That stained-glass window had a crazy sexual innuendo that I was not comfortable with. I considered not taking it to avoid the distraction, to focus on my couple and, maybe, the obviously innocent leadership of the parish... but it was part of the church and the day, so I had to.”

An Innocent Oversight?

Monsignor Freud, who served on the committee that approved the installation and signed the contract, remains oblivious to the online chatter.

“Isn’t it wonderful?” Freud asked. “The mix of blues and reds with the golden yellow just brings in the glow of the morning when the sun hits it.” He noted the piece took three months to create and a week to install, adding that not a single person has complained since it went up. (It is somewhat of note that the average membership age of the parish is 60 and above. No teenage boys make up that demographic.)

“We have the whole year booked for weddings as of this morning,” Monsignor Freud beamed. “The money will help us pay for cost of the stained glass. Interestingly, the husbands-to-be are the ones booking, weird, right?”

The Great Omission

Monteview is leaning into the viral fame. “I’m loving it. I have couples from all walks of faith and lifestyle asking me to shoot their weddings there. I tell them I’ve just become the church’s preferred photographer, so if they get an ‘amen’ from the church, I’ll send them my pricing guide.”

As of publishing, it remains unknown if the leadership at The Church of the Double Portion realizes what the artwork resembles. As for the couple in the photo? They’ve opted to leave the famous wide-angle shot out of their wedding album.

Monteviews photo from 35mm (AI enhanced)

“They said they’d rather keep their private choices private,” Monteview shared, “but they did mention the artwork gave them some ideas.”